Peter W
Admin
Irrigation has been practiced since historical times and it has been a well known technique to grow productivity with crops yielding more. It does well in areas where the rainfall or condensed atmospheric water is less than the process of evaporation and the rate at which plants loss water (transpiration). Irrigation does not go without the negativity such as build up of salts in the soil and huge water consumption requirement. Cover crops are known to of cereals and legumes family. They help protect the soil against erosion, improve solid fertility which is also know as green manure and reduce pest infestation and even suppress invading weeds. When they are converted make mulch, they help conserve water. Examples of leguminous plants are peas, soybeans and beans.
Small holder farmers in Kenya have been affected by the low soil fertility menace resulting to reduced productivity. Due to the role the cover crops plays in overall farm productivity, farmers are encouraged to have them on their farms. When cover crops are used as mulches, they reduce water loss as a result of evaporation.
The other main reason legumes are used as cover crops is due to nitrogen fixation from the atmosphere adding it to the soil. Legumes with big extensions supplies nitrogen to crops next to them in the farm.
More advanced techniques is inoculation by using rhizobial bacteria before planting. Milk can added to seeds inoculants to help stick to the seeds. Then plant immediately to avoid the bacteria drying out. Please note that many inoculants sold are very specific, so always be sure to find the right one for the crop that you are growing.
Grasses are also used as cover crops, the commonly used ones are wheat, barley, sorghum and oats. Most of these grasses have very extensive root system, greatly reducing soil erosion. They also produce a lot of residue, which adds organic matter to the soil.
Always delay planting the cover crops to ensure they do not affect growth of the main crops due to heavy shading.